Pump.



PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

J. G. KIRKSEY.

PUMP.

APPLICATION Hmm MAR. a1. 1903. No MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

V ZZ I? ZZ lunmummmw ma Y l Y lkwwis PATENTBD APR. 12, 1904.

J. G. KIRKSEY.

BUMP;

APPLIOATION FILED MAB.. 31, 1903.

a sums-snm: 2.y

N0 MODEL.V

PATENTED APR. 12, 11904. J. G. KIRKSEY.

, PUMP. APPLICATION FILED MAR.31, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

marasma' Patented April 12, 1904..

PATENT OFFICE. l

JOHN' GIDEON KIRKSEY, oF `cnnrrinefn, MISSOURI, Assieuon or ONE- 3 f V.FOURTH TOHIRAM L. SHANNON, or OARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

.PUMP- sPEoIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,968, dated Apri112,19o4. y

Appiieetien tied March 31,1903.;

To all whom t may concern/.1, f I Be it known that I, J oHN GIDEON KIRKSEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing'` at Carl thage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Pump, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pumping mechanism, and has for its object to provide a new and improved apparatus for removing the chats, tailings, and dirty water whichform the waste from metallic ore concentrating plants, thereby dispensing with the common and expensive inethod of removal now in use and providing an apparatus which may be substitutedat small cost of installation,maintained at small cost for repair, and operated with a minimum of power, while obtaining moreefif cient and Satisfactoryhresults.

With the above-stated object in view the invention, generally Speaking, consists in a `pump adapted to be operated. by direct fluidpressure .and provided with `valves offsuch nature that the'mixture of water and solid particles forming the waste of ore-concentrat tached, thereto. f ingv the gearing in the upper part of the frame 4C ing plants maybe passed therethrough without danger of .clogging or interference with the operation of the pump 4in any way.

,. In describing the `invention reference will be had tothe accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichcorresponding parts are designated by the same characters of `reference vthroughout the vari-v ous views in which. they appear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view inper- `spective of the complete pumping apparatus. Fig. 2 is a view, partlyfin elevation and partly in section, ofA the receiver land the parts at'- Fig. 3 is a detail view Show- Fig. 4 is a transverse sec- FIg.

ofthe apparatus. V tion through one of the valves 3 or. 3a.-

. 5 isaJ perspective viewof theguide for the valve-pluginvalves 3 and 3a. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section of valve `18. Fig. 7 is a detail View showing the mechanism for opening and ,closingfvalves 37 and 3,8. Fig. 8 is a detail view inM section,"showingthe construction of valves 37 and 38.

`Referring tothe drawings in detail, desseriei Ne. 150,459. me medei.)

ignates a suitable framework comprising base, top, and upright membersconstructed, preferably, of eight-by-eight timbers securely Inortised andu bolted together. l 2 designates an air-tight cylindrical vessel, hereinafter Styled the receiver, which rests upon the base of the supporting-frame with its axis disposed horizontally. Immediately above the receiver 2 and connected therewith by means of a thimble 20, which is hermetically attached to the receiver, is an inlet-valve 3, the construction of whichwill be hereinafter fully described. Above` the inlet-valve 3 and connected therewith by a suitablethimble is a hopper 4, into whichleadsa trough 24, which conveys the waste from the concentrating plant. At the side opposite that at which the trough 24 is supported the hopper 4 is provided with an overflow-spout, which communicates with a trough 25 to permit the escape of any excess of the waste in case the apparatus becomes clogged or its capacity is overtaxed. v l y At oneend of the receiver 2, connected therewithby a suitable thimble, is a horizontallydisposed valve 3, similar in construction to the valve 3, but `attached in aposition the reverse of that in which the valve 3 is attached,

is that while the valve 3' is adapted to open when the fluid-pressure within the receiver is decreased the valve 3L opens when the fluidpressure in the receiver is increased,I which will be morel fully explained hereinafter. At the 4end of the valve38L opposite that which communicates withthe receiver 2 is provided a pipe 21, through which the waste is forced by the operation of pumping mechanism to be described hereinafter. be inclined upward at an angle not exceeding twenty degrees. The` object of ,so disposing the pipe isto prevent the backward' settling of the solid portions of the waste after they have been forced through the valve 3*? and into pipe 21. If thejpipe is horizontal orinclined upward atan angle not exceeding twenty degrees, the solid particles will settle upon the bottom of the pipe; but no backward iiow of lthe consequence of which modeof attachment This pipe 21 should the solid particles toward the valve will. occur,

and consequently there is no tendency to choke the attachment of a plate 30, having a central opening and circular flanges surrounding said opening and extending both into the valve-` casing and in the opposite direction to form means of attaching a thimble by screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 2, or otherwise. The flange on the plate 30, which is directed into the valve-Casin g, is provided with an interior bushing 30, which forms the valveseat,.and attached to said iiange on its outer surface is a guide for the valve, formed of the rods 27, arranged as shown in Fig. 4. The valve proper consists of a cylindrical block of wood or other light material slidably mounted in the space inclosed by the rods 27 and provided with steel bands 32, encircling it to prevent wear from contact with said rods 27 and to insure proper movement within the space inclosed by said rods. At its upper end the block 28 is cut into hemispherical form and is covered with a cap 29, of steel or other suitable metal, held into place by a centrally-placed screw 31. A valve of this description when mounted, as shown at 3, upon the receiver will be readily operated bythe weight of the waste above the valve-plug plus the weight of the valve-plug itself, and when mounted as shown at 3 such a valve will be opened whenever 'the fluid-pressure within the receiver is greater than the back pressure of the waste in the pipe 21. The form of the valve-plug 28 is of importance, and it is effective to prevent clogging of the valve by the solid matter which forms a part of the waste for the removal of which this invention is intended. Owing to the hemispherical form of the end of the valve 28, that seats against the bushing 30, no suitable surface is provided for the lodgment of solid particles between the bushing and the end of the valve-plug; but the valve will alwaysoperate under the conditions of pressure already stated.

Inorder to operate the valves 3 and 3a to permit the entrance of waste into the receiver 2 and force it outward therefrom through the pipe 21, I utilize compressed air or steam, which is introduced into the receiver through a pipe 19. The pipe 19 enters the receiver 2 at the end remote from the valve 3JL and is connected at its other end with a pipe 45, into which steam or compressed air may be admitted at will from a steam-pipe 47 or airpipe 46, both of which communicate with the end ofthe pipe 45. In order to control the -w-ard be pointed out.

entry of steam or air into the pipe 45, the air-pipe 46 is provided with a valve 45 and steam-pipe 47 with a similar valve 36. Communicating with the pipe 19, near its point of entry into the receiver 2, is a pipe 48, provided near its point of attachment to pipe 19 with a valve 34, the use of which will after- Communicating with the pipe 19, at a point somewhat more remote from its point of entry into the receiver 2, is an air-pump, comprising a cylinder 5 and associated parts, and adjacent to the air-pump there is provided in the inlet-pipe 19 a two-way valve 18, the operation of which is controlled by the action of the air-pump. Near the point of connection of the end of the pipe 19 with the pipe 45 a valve 63 is provided, by means of which the connection between the pipe 45 and pipe 19 may be cut 0E, and a valve 33 is provided in pipe 19 between the air-pump and the point of connection of the pipe 19 with pipe 48, whereby'the communication of the air-pump and the receiver 2 may be cut o.

Two sets of mechanisms are shown in the drawings by means of which the fluid-pressure within the receiver 2 may be alternately increased to force out the waste from the receiver and decreased to permit the entrance of waste into the receiver. The iirst set of the mechanisms mentioned comprises the airpump', pipe 19, valve 18 and its operating mechanism, and pipe 45, with the steam and air pipes leading thereinto. The air-pump comprises a cylinder having a lower end tapered and connected with the pipe 19,as above stated, and having the upper end entirely open, as shown, or lpartially covered. The cylinder 5 is attached to the supporting-framework of the pumping mechanism by means of flanges cast integral therewith and bolted onto said frame. Mounted in the cylinder 5 for reciprocatory movement is a piston-head 6, pivotally connected with the piston-rod 6, which ris journaled at itsother end upon a wrist-pin 7, mounted on a rotary disk 7. The disk 7 is rigidly secured to a shaft 14, journaled in bearing-blocks 12 and having splined thereto the gear 8, which is in mesh normally with gear 9, mounted on shaft `13, journaled in bearing-blocks 12 and provided at one end with a pulley 11, to which 'power is tran-smitted by aV belt from any suitable motor. Also mounted on the Wrist-pin 7 a is a rod 15, which is pivotally connected at its other' end with an arm 17, adjustable in position upon the operating-lever 16 of the valve 18.

IOO

IIO

When the air-pump and the valve 15 are used for increasing and decreasing the fluid-pressure within the receiver 2, the valve 34 in pipe 48'and a valve 62 in pipe 45 are closed and valves 33 and 63 in pipe 19 are opened. Valve 35 and valve 36 in air-pipe 46 and steam-pipe 47 are adjusted for the admission of either steam or compressed air, or both, as

desired. The valve adjustments having been made the mechanism is set' in motion by the rotation of shaft 13, which causes the reciprocation of piston-head 6t1 in the cylinder 5 by means of the connections already described. When the piston-head 6 moves upward in the cylinder 5, a partial vacuum is created beingly closed, and valve 38L is opened, and some of the contents of the receiver will be forced outward through the valve 3 into pipe 21.

Owing to the small size of the cylinder 5 as compared with the receiver 2, the quantity ofwaste allowedto enter the receiver at each upward movement of the piston in said cylinder and the amount of waste forced out at each downward movement of the piston, if unaided by any other agent, would necessarily be small, and to increase the quantities of waste admitted and forced out at each complete reciprocation of the piston the valve 18 is provided in the pipe 19 and is operated as follows: By properly adjusting the position of the arm 17 on the lever 16 the valve 18 is caused to open during the last part of the downward stroke of the piston-rod 6, thus admitting compressed air or steam through the pipe 19 to the receiver 2 and greatly augmenting the effect of theairpump in increasing the fluid-pressure within the receiver. This augmented pressure not only forces out a much greater quantity of waste from the reservoir, but imparts to it a considerably greater velocity through the pipe 21, and consequently tends to prevent the settling of the solid particles in the pipe. As the piston-rod 6 starts upward it operates the valve 18 to shut off the entry of compressed air or steam "through the pipe 19, and when the piston nears the top of its stroke the valve 18 is brought into position to permit the escape through the pipe 19 into the open air of the compressed air and steam contained in the receiver, thus aiding the upward movement of the piston in the cylinder of the air-pump to reduce the pressure within the receiver 2 sufciently for the weight of the waste in the hopper 4 to open the valve 3 and passdownward into the receiver.

From the foregoing paragraphs it will be seen that -by means of the air-pump and the two-way valve 18, operated by the movements of the piston of said air-pump, the pressure within the receiver 2 is alternately increased and decreased, and consequently the waste contained in the receiver will be forced out as pressure increases and more waste will be allowed to enteras the pressure within the receiver decreases.

When `the supply of compressed air and 4steam is abundant, the air-pump and the valve 18 may be dispensed with and other mechanism presently to be described used instead. When the air-pump and the valve 18 are-not to be used, the gear 8 upon the shaft 12 is lshifted toward pulley 10, (the gear 8 being' slidable upon its `shaft,) soas to be out of mesh with the gear 9 on the driving-shaft 13, so that the rotation of the driving-shaft will no longer actuate the piston of the air-pump. Valves 33 and 63 in the pipe 19 are closed, so as to prevent the passage of air or steam from pipe 45 into pipe 19 or from pipe 48 into pipe 19, except the portion therof which enters the receiver 2, valve 62 in pipe 45 isopened, and valve 34 in pipe 48 is also opened. The opening of valve 62 permits the passage of steam through'pipe 45 to valve 38 in said pipe near the end thereof which is attached to pipe 48, and the opening of valve 34 permits the passage of air or steam from the receiver through pipe 48 and branch 49 thereof to valve 37 and terminal 50. Valves 37 and 38 may be of any desired form; but the form I prefer to use is th at shown in Fig. 8, comprising a swinging gate 37 a, rigidly secured to the shaft 38 and operated by means of a lever 39, having a slot 39a in its free end. The two valve-levers 39 are connected by means of rods 40, having disposedbetween their ends a spiral spring 41,

such connection serving to keep the valve normally closed.

The means for opening valves 37 and 38 comprises a split hollow arm 52, pivotally con-V nected to each of said valve-levers 39 andl having adjustably mountedtherein a rod 51, which `may be secured in any desired position by means of a clamping-collar 54 and set-screw 53. The arms 52 are each slidably mounted in a pair of guide-blocks 55, secured to the lframe 1 of the pump and provided with openings for the passage of said arms 52. The rods 51 each terminate in a curved member 56, attached thereto, as best shown in Fig. 7; The two terminals 56 of therods 51 are disposed opposite each other, as shown, and mounted midway between said terminals 56 is a shaft 59, supported in bearings 60, provided on the frame of the pump and having rigidly fastened thereto a pulley 58 and wheel 57, having adjustably mounted thereon a projecting pin 61, which is adapted to engage with the curved terminals 56 when the wheel 57 is rotated. Motion `is imparted to the shaft 59 and wheel 57 by means of a belt which passes over the pulley 10 on the driving-shaft 13 and over the pulley 58 on the shaft 59 when it is desired to operate the mechanism just described.

It will readily be'seen that when the rods 51 have been adjusted to proper position in the arms 52 and secured and pin 61 has been set at a proper distance from the center of the wheel 57 therotation of the shaft 59 will cause the lug 61 to `engage alternately the curved terminals of the rods 51 and cause the valves Ioo IIO

37 and 38 to be alternately opened. When one of said valves is open, the other will of course be closed by the action of the spring 41, introduced between the ends of the connecting-rods.

In order to make clear the operation of the mechanism just described, let it be assumed that the receiver contains only a very small quantity of waste, the pressure of the air and steam therein being too great to permitxthe opening of the valve 3 under the weight of the waste in the hopper 4. Then as the wheel 57 revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow the lug 61 will engage with the curved terminal 51, connected with valve 37, and force downward the arm 52 and rocking lever 39 to open said valve 37. When this is done, the compressed air and steam in the receiver passes upward through the pipe 48 into pipe 49' through the valve 37 and the terminal 50 beyond said valve` and the pressure within the receiver is reduced suiiiciently for the weight of the waste in the hopper 4 to open valve 3 and pass downward into the receiver.

When the lug 6l passes out of engagement with the terminal 56, associated with valve 37, and moves upward, it will soon contact with the terminal 56, associated with the valve 38, and will force said terminal upward, and so open the valve38,which will admit compressed air or steam, or both, according to the adjustment or' valves 35 and 36, into pipe 48, from which it will pass into the receiver 2, increasing the pressure therein, closing the valve 3, and opening the valve 3, through which the waste which has just entered the receiver will be forced.

While the operation of my improved pumping mechanism has been described in connection with the removal of waste from ore-concentration plants, it is obvious that its use is not limited to such plants, but that it may as well be used for other purposes, as for the conveyance of the material dredged from the bottoms of streams or for dry materials, such as grain, screened coal, and the like.

The action of the pumping mechanism when used with dry materials of the forms mentioned is substantially the same as its action upon water containing a quantity of solid matter mixed therewith, and the leffectiveness of the action of the pumping mechanism upon the dry material is insured by the construction of the inlet and outlet valves 3 and 3, through both of which solid materials can pass without clogging, because the hemispherical heads of the reciprocating blocks in the valves will not permit the lodgment of solid matter thereon to prevent the closure of the valves. The movement of dry granular materials under the iniiuence of a blast of air or steam will be substantially the same as that of water having solid matter mixed with it,

such as the tailings of an ore-concentrating plant, and as the discharge-pipe is at the bot- 1. The combination in an apparatus of the character specified of an air-tight receiver provided with an inlet-valve adapted to open when ythe luid-pressurewithin the receiver is low and an outlet-valve adapted to open when the fluid-pressure within the receiver is high, and means for alternately increasing and decreasing the pressure within the receiver, .said means comprising anKair-pump, a source of compressed fluid in addition to said air-pump,

a pipe leading from said source of compressed iuid to said receiver, and a valve mounted in said pipe and alternately opened and closed by the compression and exhaust movements of said air-pump.

2. The combination in apparatus of the class described of an air-tight receiver having an inlet-valve adapted to open when the iiuid-pressure within the receiver is low and an outletvalve adapted to open when the fluid-pressure within said receiver is high, pipes leading into said receiver one of which communicates with a source of compressed fluid and the other with the open air, valves mounted in said pipes, and operative means for said valves comprising an operating-lever for each valve, a spring adapted to hold each valve-lever normally in position to close its valve, and a revolving member disposed between said levers and adapted to alternately actuate each lever to open the valve associated therewith. v

- 3. In combination in apparatus of the class described, a receiver, a pipe leading thereto from a source of compressed fluid, a second pipe leading from said receiver to the open air, a valve in each pip'e, an operating-lever for each valve, a movable member associated with each valve-lever, said movable member being adjustable in length, a connection between said valve-levers comprising a spring and serving to hold said levers normally in position to close said valves, and means located between the said movable members for alternately engaging each member to open the valve associated therewith.

4. The combination with a receiver of a pipe leading thereto from a source of compressed Huid, asecond pipe leading from said receiver to the open air, a valve provided in eachvpipe, a valve-lever associated with each valve for IOO IIO

ISO

operating the same, a slidable member associated with each valve-lever and terminating in a curved rod disposed across the end thereof, said curved rods being placed opposite each other, a connection between said valve-levers comprising a spring and adapted to hold said 'levers in position to close the valves associated therewith and a revolving member between said curved terminals adapted to en- 

